Essay On How To Be A Model Student

1

Start to read a little more. If you are not already a reader, start at your level and work your way up. You may not know this, but by reading challenging and difficult books, you can expand your vocabulary and comprehend better when the teacher gives you some complicated textbooks to read.

2

Create mind maps. Use of mind maps can be helpful for understanding hard topics and can be handy when you need to brainstorm ideas for big projects. To create a simple mind map, all you need to do is just write the topic in the center, add lines that point in different directions and write your ideas on top of the lines.

Always try to come up as many ideas as you can. If you are stuck, do some research for more information and repeat this step until you can no longer find any more info.

A mind map can also help with revising for any exam or test.

3

Study in a constructive way. Studying is one of the key factors at any level of education. Spending two hours a day studying increases your grades, but these two hours, however, needs to be in a constructive matter. In order to study constructively, remove all distractions, which will include mobile phones, television, loud/fast-paced music and talkative friends and family members, to ensure a calm, collective environment.

4

Don't put off work for later. Make a daily routine for yourself, it really works. Keep all of your electronics such as your phone, iPod, and laptop away from you as these cause distraction. When you come home from your day of learning, read through what the teacher or lecturer had taught in class that day, and practice a few math problems to be right on top.

If you are still procrastinating, for some reason, you can also get your family and friends to supervise you to make sure that you are doing your work. Just don't get a friend of yours who talks a lot, as they can make you "off track".

5

Take short breaks while studying. For example, you can take a 15-minute break every 2 hours. Don't lose your cool if you're stuck. If you are stuck, just take a break and refocus on your work when you feel "refreshed". Taking breaks can help you to work more efficiently and productively. But do not extend your breaks to longer time period.

6

Find out which chapter your teacher is covering tomorrow and read it before going to class. That way you become familiar with what he/she will be teaching and will be able to target areas that you do not understand so well. Highlight the explanations of difficult concepts and ask questions when you have doubts.

7

Go for the extra yard. Attempt extra credit problems and assignments. Even if you are getting a 98% in a class, you can still improve your grade and understand the material better.

When you are finished with your work, ask your teacher if you can have some extra credits. Even when some of you may not like extra work, just DO IT!! If you really want to be an excellent student in your class, you've got to put all of your strength in the work that you are doing. Although you will not make such a difference now, the work that you do now could pay off later in your life.

Look in next year's subject book and try to figure out those problems. This will help your thinking skills and give you an advantage during the next school year. Don't skip ahead so far, though, that you fail to cover the fundamentals. As a result, the basics are always essential for deep learning ability and they are the most crucial parts of your academics.

8

Study. It is advised to start studying at least a few days before a test. Make a study schedule and if an extracurricular activity gets in the way of your studying, tell the person in charge of that certain event that you will not be able to attend that event, or that you will have to leave earlier. However, there will be certain situations where you will have to attend. In this kind of situation, you will just have to study another day. This is where your study schedule comes in. Write out a schedule of the week of your test and find your free time. Always remember, use your time wisely. Study as if you are motivated for the outcome of your hard work.

9

Ask a parent or an older sibling to look over your notes and create a mini-test for you three days prior to your test. It will be like your pre-test. Never try to Study before the night of your test, as it may make it difficult to concentrate on the day of the test.

We’re thrilled to present the winner of the Ohio STEM Learning Network high school essay contest. Erica Barnes is a junior at NIHF STEM High School in Akron, Ohio. We’ve published her winning essay in its entirety, but first, we’ll let her introduce herself to the network:

Meet Erica Barnes an 11th grader at National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM High School in Akron and the high school winner of our essay contest

Erica: Since the 5th grade, when my middle school career began, I have had an interest in becoming an engineer. From my first engineering class, where we built Rube Goldberg machines and were introduced to the Engineering Design Process, I was hooked. Building and designing came naturally to me; the concept of being able to create entire cities was a dream that I now knew was possible for me. Learning about the types of engineering led me to find Civil Engineering. Moving into high school and becoming more college and career focused, I began to find out just what it takes to become a Civil Engineer. When I graduate, I hope to study Civil Engineering at a top university, eventually moving on to earn my Master’s degree in Urban Planning. My overall career goal is to design and improve cities and urban areas using sustainable practices to create an environment that can be enjoyed by all.

Read her winning essay below:

Imagine being in a class where it feels like everyone seems to understand the material: except you. This is my case when it comes to math, calculus especially. As someone who wants to become an engineer, every version of math is crucial for me to grasp to become successful in my future. In a school where college is highly promoted, and coming from education-oriented parents, continuing my education is important to succeed in life. Seems typical, but what happens when you struggle with the very thing you want to study?

Every week is a new chapter, new homework, new quizzes, and the dreaded test. Here I am, faced with this just like every other student. I take out my notebook, follow along, ask questions, albeit more than everyone else, and it makes sense. Then comes the test. I feel solidarity with my friends going into it, surrounded by choruses of “I’m going to fail” and “I don’t know anything”. During the test I become enclosed in my own world of struggle, trying to make sense of the notes that were once so clear. I periodically look around to see if anyone else is outwardly showing the internal panic I feel, but all is calm. Every once in a while, I’ll share a disappointed head nod with a classmate about a particularly hard question; we then both continue to tread through the field of symbols, letters, and numbers that are on the test.

The tests are finally graded and returned. Friends that seemed to struggle with you, claiming to know nothing, receive high B’s and A’s, a sea of 90 and above percent. I receive my paper, turned face down to avoid other’s eyes. Turning it over, I take in the numerous red slashes, circling of mistakes and question marks. I go through the test, keeping up a happy face, writing down the correct answers and comparing with friends’ papers. I remain light on the outside, but the all too familiar feeling of failure is in full effect. 80 is the golden number, the achievement of mastery that is held highly to all STEM students. Seeing anything less is an immediate blow to both your grade and self-esteem. You don’t want to look dumb or fall behind because the reflection of that is unknown. Will you have the same impression on colleges, or get the same opportunities? How could I be trying to achieve this degree when I can’t even be average in high school?

These thoughts have lead me to ask what I really want for myself. I know that I want to pursue engineering because I still have a passion for it despite my difficulties. I want to be able to design and create a world that improves life for generations. I want to be a role model and inspire young, black girls who enjoy science and want to build and expand their knowledge. I want them to look at my success and believe that they can achieve anything, despite the circumstances or odds stacked against them. It is for these girls that I try to take each math test in stride. It is for these girls that I continue to pick myself back up and persevere. I have realized that my scores and numbers do not define who I am or my true intelligence. High school tests cannot measure the love I have for my friends and family, the values I hold close, my ideas and creativity that are waiting to be expressed. I continue to march on stronger than ever because I believe in myself: no class or test will ever tell me otherwise.